A Survey of Nurse Employers on Professional and Practice Issues Affecting Nursing

During 2009 and 2010, a survey was administered to hospital, home health, and nursing home nurse employers in the United States to capture insights into the professional and practice issues affecting nursing. These key issues were identified: workforce, educational preparation, transition, and patient safety. The majority of respondents indicated a need for experienced nurses, and 68% of home health, 16% of nursing home, and 14% of hospital employers preferred not hiring newly licensed nurses. Professional autonomy, transition-to-practice programs, and collegial nurse-physician relationships were revealed as potentially important strategies for reducing turnover and increasing retention of newly licensed nurses. Patient-safety results showed that in the past 5 years, 14% of hospitals, 5% of home health agencies, and 6% of nursing homes found a nurse practicing without a license. The implications for regulators, researchers, educators, and employers are discussed.